Locking system for foldable crates

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the improvements in the locking system providing the sides of the foldable crates to be locked to each other. 
     The improvements in the locking system improved with this invention is characterized with having the finger press protrusion ( 19 ) and the side connections of the finger press protrusion ( 20 ) joined with the finger press protrusion is located on the surface ( 12 ) of the male part ( 4 ) of the locking system disclosed at the patent of addition of the main patent application numbered 2005/02815 submitted in Turkey on the date Jul. 19, 2005 and the PCT patent application numbered PCT/TR2006/000031 submitted on Jul. 13, 2006 benefiting from the priority right of this said application.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to improvements in the locking system enabling the sides to be locked up in foldable crates.

The improvements in the locking system improved with this invention is the patent of addition of the main patent application numbered 2005/02815 submitted in Turkey on the date Jul. 19, 2005 and the PCT patent application numbered PCT/TR2006/000031 submitted on Jul. 13, 2006 benefiting from the priority right of this said application.

PRIOR ART ABOUT THE INVENTION

The prior art of the technique for the improvements in the locking system improved with this invention is described in the patent applications numbered TR 2005/02815 and PCT/TR2006/000031. In addition to these;

-   -   US 2003/136781 A1, and     -   US 2004/178197 A1         numbered publications can be given as documents related to the         prior art of the invention.

The document numbered US 2003/136781 A1 discloses the locking system however this locking system does not include the pressing part. In this document, there is a piece named “actuator” which is pushed towards one side.

The document numbered US 2004/178197 A1 discloses the locking system however this locking system does not comprise finger pressing part. A piece named clamp provides locking in this publication.

None of the previous patent applications and the documents related with the prior art of the invention given with this application includes finger pressing part for unlocking and finger press protrusion on this part.

AIMS FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THE INVENTION

With the invention disclosed in the inventions numbered 2005/02815 and PCT/TR2006/000031 which are the main patent applications of this invention, the force applied to the finger part is applied not to the middle part but dispersedly to the whole surface of the finger part, thus opening of the lock has difficulties.

Improving the locking system for foldable crates, a more easy way of opening the lock is achieved with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The description of the figures prepared for a better explanation of the improvements in the locking system improved with this invention is specified below;

FIG. 1—Perspective view of foldable crate locking system from inside

FIG. 2—Cross section view of foldable crate locking system

FIG. 3—Perspective view of foldable crate locking system from outside

DEFINITION OF THE COMPONENTS (PARTS-FEATURES) ON THE FIGURES

The components-parts-features shown in the figures prepared for a better explanation of the improvements in the locking system improved with this invention are numbered separately. Explanation of each number displayed at the enclosed figures is explained below. The numbers are identical with the previous applications of TR 2005/02815 and PCT/TR2006/000031 numbered patent applications. The numbers of the components which are not taking part in the previous applications are beginning from number 18.

-   1—Foldable crate -   2—Long side -   3—Short side -   4—Male part of the locking system -   5—Female part of the locking system -   6—Base of the male part -   7—Side of the male part -   8—Side of the female part -   9—Protrusion of the female part -   10—Hollow (recess) of the male part -   11—Joining point of the side and base of the male part -   12—Point of pressing for unlocking. -   13—Finger -   14—Centering recess (hole—hollow) -   15—Centering protrusion -   16—Protrusion of the male part -   17—Recess of the female part -   18—Exterior surface of the finger press protrusion -   19—Connection part of the finger press protrusion -   20—Side connections of the finger press protrusion

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The main parts (components) of the improvements in the locking system improved with this invention in addition to the components explained with the patent applications numbered TR 2005/02815 and PCT/TR2006/000031 are;

-   -   Exterior surface of the finger press protrusion (18),     -   Connection part of the finger press protrusion (19),     -   Side connections of the finger press protrusion (20)

Centering recess (hole—hollow) (14) may be either quadratic or rectangular parallelepiped and also cylindrical or hemispherical. Centering recess (hole—hollow) (14) may be either on the short side (3) or on the long side (2) as well.

Centering protrusion (15) may be either with the shape of quadratic or rectangular parallelepiped so as to penetrate into the centering recess (hole—hollow) (14) or also cylindrical or hemispherical. Centering protrusion (15) may either be on the long side (2) or on the short side (3) as well.

Centering protrusion (15) may either be at the both sides of the male part (4) or at the both sides of the female part (5). One of the centering protrusions (15) may be on one side of the male part (4) and the other on the other side of the female part (5). At the opponent part of the centering protrusions (15) is the centering recess (hole—hollow) (14).

The main function of the centering recess (hole—hollow) (14) and its protrusions (15) is to ensure that the male (4) and the female (5) parts of the lock are exactly in line. By this way locking and opening of the lock occurs easily.

Another function of the centering recess (hole—hollow) (14) and its protrusions (15) is to prevent constraining of the lock through compensating the load after locking, during transport or storage as the sides are loaded.

The male part (4) of the improvements in the locking system improved with this invention comprises,

-   -   The base (6),     -   Side (7),     -   Hollow (recess) (10),     -   Joining point of the side and base (11),     -   Point of pressing for unlocking (12), and     -   Exterior surface of the finger press protrusion (18),     -   Connection part of the finger press protrusion (19),     -   Side connections of the finger press protrusion (20)

The base (6) and the side (7) of the male part (4) are joined at the joining point of the side and base (11). This joining at the joining point (11) may either be vertical or curved to outside or inside so as to gain the strength.

At two sides (7) of the male part (4) there is hollow (recess) (10). Hollow (10) provides locking after the penetration of the protrusion (9) of the female part (5).

At the front of male part (4) (where it fronts on the female part) there are point of pressing for unlocking (12) and accordingly the exterior surface of the finger press protrusion (18), the connection part of the finger press protrusion (19), the side connections of the finger press protrusion (20).

As the exterior surface of the finger press protrusion (18) is pressed with finger (12), the force is transmitted to the connection part of the finger press protrusion (19) and the side connections of the finger press protrusion (20); and the sides (7) of the male part (4) moves inwards stretching and moves the hollow (recess) (10) inwards. The protrusion (9) of the female part (5) emerges from the hollow (10) and the lock is opened by this way.

The female part of the locking system (5) for the foldable crates improved with this invention comprises;

-   -   Side of the female part (8) and     -   Protrusion of the female part (9)

Penetrating into the hollow (10) at the side (7) of the male part (4), the protrusion (9) at the side (8) of the female part (5) provides locking.

For the improvements for the locking system for foldable crates improved with this invention; the female part (5) centering recess (hole—hollow) (14), centering protrusion (15) and their components are as described at the patent applications numbered TR 2005/02815 and PCT/TR2006/000031.

A very easy way to open the locking system is achieved with the improvements in the locking system for foldable crates improved with this invention. 

1- Locking system for foldable crates characterized with comprising the male part (4) which is located on one of the sides (2 and 3) of the crate (1) and consisting of the base (6), side (7), hollow (recess) (10), joining point of the side and base (11) and point of pressing for unlocking (12), and accordingly the finger press protrusion (18), the connection part of the finger press protrusion (19) and the side connections of the finger press protrusion (20), the female part (5) which is located on the other side (2 and 3) of the crate (1) and consisting of side (8) and protrusion (9), centering protrusions (15) located above or below or both above and below the male part (4), centering recesses (14) located above or below or both above and below the female part (5), as the main components and where the force is transmitted to the connection part of the finger press protrusion (19), the side connections of the finger press protrusion (20) and finger press part (12) and as a result the sides (7) of the male part (4) moves inwards stretching and moves the hollow (recess) (10) inwards as the exterior surface of the finger press protrusion (18) is pressed with finger (12), and the protrusion (9) of the female part (5) emerges from the hollow (10) and the lock is opened by this way. 2- Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in claim 1 wherein said finger press protrusion (19) and the side connections of the finger press protrusion (20) joined with the finger press protrusion is located on the surface (12) of the male part (4). 3- Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said joining at the joining point (11) of the base (6) and side (7) of the male part (4) may either be vertical or curved to outside or inside so as to gain the strength. 4- Locking system for foldable crates previously wherein said hollow (recess) (10) is located at both sides (7) of the male part (4). 5- Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said protrusion (9) of the female part (5) provides locking by penetrating into the hollows (recess) (10) at two sides (7) of the male part (4). 6- Locking system for foldable crates as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said protrusions (16) at two sides (7) of the male part (4) provide locking by penetrating into the recesses (17) of the female part (5). 